Westland says after receiving advice late last week from the Ministry of Primary Industries of the discovery by Fonterra of traces of DCD in some of its milk products, Westland undertook its own testing through an independent laboratory.

The tests revealed "minute traces" of DCD in samples produced before November 1 last year.

Westland said the evidence indicates product made after November 1 is free from DCD.

“While we are assured by independent health authorities and the New Zealand Government that DCD is not a food safety risk, we are very aware that for many of our customers any residue in milk products is undesirable," Westland chief executive Rod Quin said.

"Some of our customers in Asia have already requested tests for DCD following the Ministry of Primary Industries announcement last week.”

Quin said Westland was now conducting additional testing in line with customer and government requirements and will report the results to customers as soon as possible.

“The best way to allay our customers’ fears is with accurate information,” Quin said. “We will continue to work with the New Zealand dairy industry, the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Government to reassure suppliers, customers and stakeholders that DCD is not harmful to human health and that every step to remedy this situation and prevent its ongoing occurrence is being taken.”

He said a minority of Westland’s shareholders had used DCD with most use happening outside peak milk production periods.

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3 Comments

Has anyone thought about testing our water supply in NZ for DCD residues?
Auckland draws its water from the Waikato River and many other towns draw drinking water from waterways which are adjacent land where DCD would have been applied. The Chinese have a right to know what is in their milk, do New Zealanders have the same right to find out what is in their water?

The co-ops Fonterra, Westland and Tatua have directly answered questions/offered information in relation to DCD. The independents who make mainly milk powder refer questions to DCANZ!
Given it appears to only be in powder products Synlait and Open Country are also potentially affected, but don't have the cojoines to show some transparancy. They sayMilk processors, which bought milk from Fonterra as well as from their own farmers, could lose tens of millions of dollars because overseas customers were not accepting shipments until the product was certified safe, one source said.But there was no way now that orders already on the water or at overseas wharves could be tested and certified, he said.http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/business/8246467/Claims-of-a-cover-...

With some of the independents so critical of Fonterra, why were they also not testing for DCD? Are their own testing standards so slack that they are effectively relying on Fonterra to be the testers for the industry? Makes one wonder how robust the testing regimes in these independents are if a small company like Westland still has samples, but the independents don't.